Surgical appliance



April 9, 1935. E. E. LQNGFELLQW SURGIAL APLIANcE Filed April 25, 1934 living Vbeing and to sustain said partsin a state SURGICAL APPLIANCE Earl `E; Longfellow, Warsaw, Ind., assigner "to `Harry Herschel Leiter,\Warsaw, Ind.

Application Api-i123, 1934, Serial No. 721,917 o zolaims. (c1. 12s- 92)` This invention relates to improvements in surgical appliances. The object of the improvement is to afford an appliance for the adjustment and fixation of the parts of broken bones in a of fixation temporarily after replacement in their normal relative positions to thereby facilitate subsequent apposition, Other .objects and advantages of the invention will appear inthe following description. i

An illustrative embodiment of the inventionis shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:-

j Fig. 1 is a top plan View of the appliance With j a fractured bone secured thereby; and

`Fig. 2 is a side elevation projected from Fig. l,V a portion thereof being Ain section.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention preferably consists of a pair of extensible anchors arranged in conjunction with a pair of skeletal pinsapplicable to a fractured limb to secure the parts of broken bones, in a state of xation upon adjustment thereof.

Each anchor has a pair of axially alined shafts I and 2, the adjacent end portions of which have formed thereon respectively leftandright hand external threads 3 and 4 and extend into the corresponding internally threaded ends of a turnbuckle 5 so that upon rotation of said turnbuckle relative to the shafts movement of said shafts toward or from each other adjustablyis effected..

Jam-nuts 6 disposed on thethreaded portions of said shafts are provided which when tightened against the corresponding ends ofthe turnbuckle i secure said shafts in their adjusted positions.

The outer end portion 'I of each shaft has thereon a sliding tubular sleeve 8 and has made therein a series of transversely disposed openings 9 preferably of different sizes, and said sleeve has perforations Il) in its opposite sides that correspond wth the openings in the shaft. The outer end of each shaft has a threaded extension I I having thereon a nut I2 that bears against the corresponding end of the sleeve 8 and upon manipulation of the nut the sleeve is moved adjustably lengthwise on the shaft so vthat `When a skeletal pin I3-I4 is inserted through an opening 9 in the shaft and the corresponding perforations I in the sleeve it is clamped in connection with the shaft upon tightening of the nut against the outer end of the sleeve and is therebyheld. rmly in place in the anchor. l

In use, one of the skeletal pins (I3) is inserted through the injuredlimb so as to penetrate the bone I5 thereof at a point suitably spaced' from the point of fracture I6 thereof with its opposite shafts by said sleeves.

ends protruding from the overlying flesh (not shown) about the bone.` `The other skeletal pin (I4) is similarly inserted through the limb so as` to penetrate the bone vat a point suitably spaced from the point of fracture I6 oppositely with respect to the former pin (I3)v and preferably so as to extend in parallel relation therewith When the parts of the broken bone are properly adjusted together.

The protruding ends of thepins are secured in the corresponding anchors rmly by tightening the nuts I2 on said extensionslso thatthe pins are clamped in place in connection with the By` manipulating the turnbuckles 5 and securing them in adjusted positions in their shafts by tightening' the jam-nuts 6, the pins are moved toward or frorneach other and secured as may be required to hold the parts of the fractured bone 1n proper juxtaposition. When the fracture is thus reduced and held in place4 by the appliance a cast of plaster or other suitable surgical expedient (not shown) is applied so as to encase the fractured limb about the fracture and adjacent portions of the protruding pins, andin this manner insure fixation of the bone parts. moved from the pins at such time'as the surgeon may determine.

The appliance as constructed affords opportunity for the exercise of more or less surgical The anchors are subsequently re- Y skill in its adaptation. For instance, after one. o

of the pinshas been applied in place to the injured limb, one of the anchors may be secured transversely disposed, axially movable sleeves on said end portions having perforations ino their sides complemental to the corresponding openings in said end portions, nuts threaded on the outer ends of said end portions engageable with theV corresponding sleeves for effecting axial movement thereof in said end portions, and

openings `in the end portions of said anchor and the corresponding perforations in said sleeves to besecured thereby in place With respectto saidv skeletal pins inserted selectively through the o y anchors upon tightening of said nuts against said sleeves.

2. In a surgicalY appliance, an anchor for securing skeletal pins that are inserted transverselythrough the parts of a fractured limb at points spaced apart, said archor having a pair of axially tions of said shafts'jarn-nutson said threaded Vportions acting against the corresponding end of said turnbuckle to secure said shafts in adjusted positions relative thereto, therouter end portions of said shafts having transversely disposed needle-receiving openings therein, sleeves axially slidable on the outer end portions of said shafts provided with perforations in their sides complemental to said openings, and means on said shafts for axially moving the corresponding sleeves adjustalolyso that pins inserted through said openings and perforations are thereby clamped in 10 

